MCKEESPORT, Pa. — Coming off of an unreal and unstoppable performance with nearly 400 all-purpose yards and five total touchdowns, No. 1-ranked 2027 McKeesport running back Kemon Spell was prepping for an encore against 5A title contender Peters Township in a non-conference matchup. However, McKeesport was dealt a huge blow with Spell sitting out with […]
MCKEESPORT, Pa. — Coming off of an unreal and unstoppable performance with nearly 400 all-purpose yards and five total touchdowns, No. 1-ranked 2027 McKeesport running back Kemon Spell was prepping for an encore against 5A title contender Peters Township in a non-conference matchup.
However, McKeesport was dealt a huge blow with Spell sitting out with an ankle injury, which left a void in the Tigers running game and the offense unable to find the end zone as Peters Township secured a 35-0 shutout on the road.
Both Peters Township (5A) and McKeesport (4A) are coming off WPIAL championship appearances a year ago and have their sights sets on returning to the grand stage. McKeesport was hoping to have a different fate in Friday’s matchup after losing to the Indians last season 42-7 on the road.
Without Spell and two key offensive linemen, the Tigers offense crawled on the ground and first-year quarterback Matthew Miller struggled to move the chains through the air. It’s the first time McKeesport has been shut out since the season opener of the 2020 season against Belle Vernon.
Led by Pitt defensive end commit and four-star prospect Reston Lehman, the Indians kept the Tigers under 40 rushing yards on the evening. Lehman also showed off his playmaking prowess with a 54-yard pick-six.
Peters Township (2-0) marched down the field on its first possession. The 77-yard scoring drive was moved along by senior running back Cole Neupaver, which included a 26-yard pick up to put the Indians into plus territory.
Villanova quarterback commit Nolan DiLucia kept the drive alive and once in the red zone, spotted senior receiver Lucas Rost open in the middle of the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown strike.
With McKeesport (1-1) operating near midfield, Miller threw into a nightmare scenario as Lehman jumped the out route, nabbed the interception and took it to the house to put Peters Township ahead 14-0.
On the ensuing Peters Township drive, DiLucia went back through the air to his two Power Four playmakers as the Indians navigated downfield. First it was a 30-yard pass play to Lehman and then a nine-yard completion to Stanford commit Lucas Shanafelt on fourth down.
Peters Township then went to the ground with its goal line offense as Neupaver went in untouched from two yards out. He would then punch in a 1-yard touchdown with 2:57 to go in the third quarter to boost the Indians’ lead to 28-0.
As the offense failed to get going for McKeesport, special teams did not help that cause either. A kick return fumble gave Peters the ball back at midfield. The Indians were in the end zone in no time with a 13-yard receiving touchdown by Rost for his second of the game.
Peters will take on 6A Mt. Lebanon next Friday, while McKeesport heads into a 4A title game rematch with the Thomas Jefferson Jaguars back at home.
Category: General Sports
